Bending tool storage device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bending tool storage device (1) for storing bending tools (2), comprising at least one storage unit (3), which comprises an outer tool storage (4) which is ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped and has a plurality of guide rails (14) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), characterized in that the storage unit (3) comprises at least one inner tool storage (5, 6) which is arranged inside the outer tool storage (4) and has a plurality of guide rails (15, 16) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), and in that the outer tool storage (4) and the inner tool storage (5, 6) are rotatable relative to one another, wherein, in different positions of relative rotation between outer tool storage (4) and inner tool storage (5), at least one guide rail (14) of the outer tool storage (4) is in each case in aligned orientation with another guide rail (15, 16) of the inner tool storage (5, 6).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of PCT/AT2016/050244 filed onJul. 7, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of AustrianApplication No. A 50599/2015 filed on Jul. 8, 2015, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference. The international application underPCT article 21(2) was not published in English.

The invention relates to a bending tool storage device for storingbending tools, comprising at least one storage unit, which comprises anouter tool storage which is ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped and has aplurality of guide rails for holding and guiding bending tools. Theinvention also relates to a loading device, in particular a changingdevice, for loading a bending press with bending tools and/or forchanging one or more bending tools inserted in a bending press, and to amethod for depositing at least one bending tool in a storage deviceand/or for taking at least one bending tool from a storage device.

CH668035A5 discloses a bending press and a mechanism for changingbending tools. Here, bending tools are suspended in a storage device, ineach case from a hook. Changing is carried out by means of—a carrier armwhich is rotatable about a horizontal swivel axis and which picks up asingle bending tool and transfers it from the tool storage to thebending press. A disadvantage of this changing device is that a largeamount of space must be provided for the movement of the carrier arm.Furthermore, the approach and swiveling of the arm towards the bendingpress tool holder requires a complex sequence of movements. In addition,there is a high risk of collision between carrier arm and parts of thebending press on the one hand and the tool storage on the other. A greatdeal of time is also required for the changeover as the bending toolscan only be transferred individually, i.e., successively.

EP2143506B1 discloses a device for changing and fitting a multi-parttool for a trimming press. A complex and space-consuming transfer devicewith a gripper or hook removes bending tools from the tool storage andtransports them to the bending press. The transfer device can be movedvertically and horizontally for this purpose; the hook can also berotated.

Further storage devices known from the prior art have the disadvantagethat their storage capacity is only very small. That is to say, thenumber of bending tools which can be deposited in the storage device perunit of space is limited and collisions between individual bending toolscannot be ruled out.

The disadvantages resulting from the prior art therefore consist on theone hand in the elaborate and space-consuming form of the tool storageand of the transfer device which transfers the bending tools from thetool storage to the bending press. On the other hand, the storagecapacity of the tool storages is highly limited, and such a tool storagerequires a large amount of space. In particular, this results in that aspecial holding structure, e.g., in the form of a hook, is required foreach tool (as in CH668035A5), or the tool storage must have sufficient(intermediate) space for the entry of the transfer device (as in the twopublications mentioned above). Changing tools is sometimes verytime-consuming. As well as an increased risk of collision of the movingparts including the bending tools and the transfer device, the costoutlay is also a disadvantageous factor of the known devices.

The object of the invention consists in eliminating or mitigating thesedisadvantages and providing a bending tool storage device and/or loadingdevice which can be sized in a more space-saving manner and the toolstorages of which have a higher storage density, i.e., can accommodate agreater number of bending tools per unit of space. It must be possibleto carry out the loading and changing of bending tools in a simple andreliable manner. The risk of collisions is to be reduced, preferablyeliminated entirely. The bending tool storage device and loading deviceand the operation thereof must be more costeffective.

This objective is achieved with a storage device of the kind mentionedin the introduction in that the storage unit comprises at least oneinner tool storage which is arranged inside the outer tool storage andhas a plurality of guide rails for holding and guiding bending tools,and in that the outer tool storage and the inner tool storage arerotatable relative to one another, wherein, in different positions ofrelative rotation between outer tool storage and inner tool storage, atleast one guide rail of the outer tool storage is in each case inaligned orientation with another guide rail of the inner tool storage.

By providing at least one inner tool storage, on the one hand thestorage capacity of the storage device is increased, and, on the other,the depositing and extraction of individual bending tools in or from thetool storages is simplified. The counter-rotation of the tool storagesenables complex shunting operations, during which the bending tools aremoved along the guide rails.

The guide rails of the outer tool storage as well as the guide rails ofthe inner tool storage are in each case separated from one another byangular distances; the guide rails run in a direction from the inside tothe outside in each case.

In the case of a ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped tool storage, theguide rails run from the inner circumference towards the outercircumference of the tool storage. In the case of a disc-shaped (inner)tool storage, they run from an inner region towards the outercircumference. The directions in which the guide rails run thereforehave a radial component in each case.

In an embodiment, the guide rails of the outer tool storage and theguide rails of the at least one inner tool storage in each case run in aradial direction (here the running direction of the guide rails has notangential component) or in a direction with radial component.

In an alternative embodiment, the guide rails of the outer tool storageand the guide rails of the at least one inner tool storage each run indirections with tangential component. In this embodiment too, the guiderails run from the inside to the outside but are inclined to the(purely) radial direction. The length of the individual guide rails canbe increased by this measure. In this embodiment, the running directionsof the guide rails have a tangential component in addition to a radialcomponent. The radial and tangential direction component is in each casereferred to the ring, partial ring or disc shape (or the center) of therespective tool storage.

The radial direction or the radial direction component of the guiderails refers in each case to the center, which is defined by the ringshape, partial-ring shape or disc shape (or circular shape) of a toolstorage. Due to the individual guide rails in each case running in theradial direction or in a direction with radial component, the distancebetween adjacent guide rails of a tool storage increases in the radialdirection (i.e., from the inner circumference towards the outercircumference). That is to say, adjacent guide rails have an angulardistance from one another (and are not parallel to one another).

The outer tool storage and the at least one inner tool storage arelocated in a common plane (or can be moved into a common plane), thusenabling a bending tool to be moved from one tool storage to anothertool storage.

With the storage device according to the invention, it is also possibleto accommodate a plurality of bending tools in one guide railsuccessively in a row, as a result of which the storage density of thetool storage is further increased. Now, in order to be able to extractor separate a first bending tool from this row, bending tools can bemoved temporarily into the respective other tool storage and stored(temporarily) there. Furthermore, the two counter-rotatable toolstorages enable bending tools to be moved from one (or a first) guiderail of the tool storage to another (or second) guide rail of the sametool storage. Such shunting operations take place exclusively by meansof moving operations of bending tools along guide rails and relativerotation(s) between the tool storages.

An advantage of the invention consists in that, during the shuntingmaneuver, the bending tools remain continuously located in guide rails(i.e., do not have to be removed from the guide rails). The transfer ofa bending tool from one guide rail (e.g., of the outer tool storage) toanother guide rail (e.g., of the inner tool storage) takes place in thatthe two guide rails are in aligned orientation with one another (as aresult of which a continuous guide section is produced), and by movingthe bending tool from one guide rail into the other guide rail.Intermediate steps, which comprise the removal of a bending tool from aguide rail and its replacement, are unnecessary as result of theprinciple according to the invention.

In order to effect a relative movement (rotation) between outer andinner tool storage, it is possible to make the outer tool storage and/orthe inner tool storage rotatable. As a result of the relative rotation,the guide rail(s) of the one tool storage can be brought in alignedorientation with different guide rails of the other tool storage.

As a result of the measure according to the invention, on the one hand,the loading process can be accelerated and made more efficient and, onthe other, the possible storage density of bending tools in the storagedevice is increased.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least one innertool storage is ring-shaped or partial ring-shaped. As a result, it ismatched to the shape of the outer tool storage and, by rotating, canbring different guide rails into common alignment with one another. Sucharrangements also increase the storage density.

The outer tool storage and/or the inner tool storage can in each caseform a closed ring (ring-shaped) or a ring which is open at one side(partial-ring-shaped). With regard to the storage density, ring-shapedtool storages (closed ring) are preferred, but partial-ring-shaped toolstorages can also be used for other reasons (e.g., space conditions).The inner tool storage could also be formed in the shape of a discinstead of a ring shape.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least one innertool storage is arranged concentrically with respect to the outer toolstorage. Here, the centers which are defined by the ring shape, partialring shape or disc shape of the tool storages coincide. As well as aspace-saving arrangement, this also enables an increase in the storagedensity. It is also possible to have the tool storage rotate about acommon axis of rotation.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the inside diameter ofthe outer tool storage corresponds substantially to the outside diameterof the inner tool storage. Here, at most, a small gap is providedbetween the tool storages so that the bending tools can move directlyfrom one tool storage to the other.

An embodiment is characterized in that the width of the tool storages isdifferent. As a result, shorter bending tools can preferably be storedin the less wide tool storage and longer bending tools in the wider toolstorage. The ‘width’ is understood to mean the (radial) extension of atool storage between its outer circumference and its innercircumference.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the outer tool storageand the inner tool storage each form a closed ring and that the numberof guide rails of the outer tool storage is greater, preferably by atleast 1.3 times greater, particularly preferably by at least 1.5 timesgreater, than the number of guide rails of the inner tool storage. As aresult of this measure, the space available is used in the best possibleway and more bending tools can be deposited (in the outer tool storage).In doing so, use is made of the fact that the extension of the outertool storage in the circumferential direction is greater than theextension of the inner tool storage in the circumferential direction.For the same or similar lateral distance from adjacent guide rails, moreguide rails can be accommodated on the outer tool storage.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the angular distancebetween adjacent guide rails of the outer tool storage is less than theangular distance between adjacent guide rails of the inner tool storage.The angular distance is understood to mean that angle by which adjacentguide rails are inclined with respect to one another. As a result ofthis measure the storage capacity can be considerably increased.

Preferably, in the outer tool storage, the angular distances betweenadjacent guide rails are in each case no greater than a first angle and,in the inner tool storage, the angular distances between adjacent guiderails are in each case at least as great as a second angle, wherein thesecond angle is greater than the first angle. As a result of thismeasure, the storage density can likewise be increased.

The second angle can particularly be at least 1.3 times, preferably atleast 1.5 times, particularly preferably at least 2 times as great asthe first angle.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that shorter bending toolsare held in the guide rails of the outer tool storage than in the guiderails of the inner tool storage. As a result of such a distribution, thespace available can be optimally utilized. The inner tool storage isdesigned to accommodate larger bending tools, wherein, as a result ofappropriate distances between the guide rails, it is guaranteed that nocollisions occur between bending tools. The shorter bending tools arepreferably held on the outer tool storage in a position which liescloser to the outer circumference than to the inner circumference of theouter tool storage. As a result—with at the same time high storagedensity—collisions are also avoided, as the distance between adjacentguide rails is greater in the region of the outer circumference than inthe region of the inner circumference of the outer tool storage.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the outer tool storageand the at least one inner tool storage are rotatable, preferably abouta common axis of rotation. As both tool storages are rotatable inthemselves (in particular relative to a frame on which both toolstorages are mounted), the options for shunting operations areincreased, as a result of which the loading process can be simplifiedand shortened.

Preferably, the outer tool storage and the inner tool storage of thestorage unit each have their own rotary drive. This enables a rotationof the tool storages simultaneously and independently of one another.

In an alternative embodiment, at least two tool storages of the storageunit have a common rotary drive, from which they can be individuallydecoupled. In this embodiment, at least one rotary drive can be saved.An actuatable coupling provides for the coupling and decoupling of thetool storages from the rotary drive.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the storage unitcomprises at least one sensor, in particular an angle sensor, fordetermining the rotational position of the outer tool storage and/or theat least one inner tool storage. This enables an automation of thestorage and loading operations.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that a transfer device formoving the bending tools along the guide rails is arranged inside theinner tool storage.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the storage unitcomprises at least two inner tool storages which are rotatable relativeto one another. As a result, the storage capacity can be furtherincreased. The further inner tool storage(s) also have guide railsrunning from the inside to the outside, which can be brought in alignedorientation with guide rails of the adjacent tool storage by means ofrelative rotation. A storage unit can also have a plurality of(partial-) ring-shaped tool storages arranged concentrically.

The object is also achieved with a storage device for storing bendingtools, comprising at least one storage unit, which comprises at leastone tool storage which is ring-shaped or partial ring-shaped and has aplurality of guide rails (e.g., running in a radial direction or in adirection with tangential component) for holding and guiding bendingtools, in particular according to one of the preceding embodiments,wherein the at least one tool storage has along its circumference afirst section in which the angular distance between adjacent guide railsis less than in a second section along its circumference. As a result ofthis measure, the storage density can be increased in that more guiderails per unit angle are arranged and, accordingly, also more bendingtools can be accommodated, in the second section. At the same time,adjacent guide rails of the second section can be separated from oneanother such that (short) bending tools can be deposited next to oneanother (i.e., in adjacent guide rails) in the region of the outercircumference without touching one another. On the other hand, in theregion of the inner circumference, the lateral distance between adjacentguide rails is already so small that collisions occur if two bendingtools are moved through this region simultaneously. However, theadvantage of being able to accommodate more bending tools in guide railsnext to one another predominates.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that, in the first section,the angular distances between adjacent guide rails are in each case nogreater than a first angle and that, in the second section, the angulardistances between adjacent guide rails are in each case at least asgreat as a second angle, wherein the second angle is greater than thefirst angle. As a result of this measure, an increase in storage densityis achieved. More guide rails per unit angle (than in the secondsection) are arranged and, accordingly, also more bending tools can beaccommodated, in the first section. Above all, as a result of thesolution according to the invention, the fact that bending tools havedifferent size and shape can be taken into account. The first sectioncan therefore be specifically used to accommodate shorter and/ornarrower bending tools. On the other hand, longer and/or wider bendingtools can be accommodated in the second section. With appropriatestorage strategy, the achievable storage density, that is to say thenumber of bending tools per unit of space, can be increased as a result.

At this point, it must be mentioned that the bending tool storage canalso have two or more first and/or second sections which alternate,e.g., along the circumference of the bending tool storage.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that, in the first section,the angular distances between adjacent guide rails are in each case asgreat as the first angle and/or that, in the second section, the angulardistances between adjacent guide rails are in each case as great as thesecond angle. As a result, an arrangement of equidistant (i.e., havingthe same angular distance from one another) guide rails can be achievedin the first and/or second section.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the second angle is atleast 1.3 times, preferably at least 1.5 times, particularly preferablyat least 2 times as great as the first angle. The packing density in thefirst section, that is to say the number of bending tools to be storedper unit of space, can therefore be increased by the correspondingfactor.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that shorter bending toolsare held in the guide rails of the first section than in the guide railsof the second section. The arrangement of longer bending tools inadjacent guide rails of the first section does not lead to any problems,as the angular distance between the guide rails here is greater anyway.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least one firstsection and/or the at least one second section extend over an angularrange of at least 30°, preferably at least 60°, particularly preferablyat least 90°. As a result, a substantial increase in storage density canbe achieved.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the first section and/orthe second section comprise at least 3, preferably at least 5,particularly preferably at least 10 guide rails.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that shorter bending toolsare held in guide rails of the first section than in guide rails of thesecond section, wherein the bending tools are arranged closer to theouter ends—referred to the radial direction—of the guide rails than tothe inner ends, preferably in the region of the outer ends of the guiderails.

Such a storage strategy takes into account the size and shape of thebending tools, as a result of which the achievable storage density isincreased.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that, in the first section,the distance between the longitudinal axes of adjacent guide rails inthe region of their inner ends—referred to the radial direction—is nogreater than, preferably less than the dimension of a bending tool heldin a guide rail of the first section perpendicular to the direction ofthe guide rail. As a result, the available space is optimally utilizedin that the guide rails are arranged as close as possible to oneanother.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the storage device hasat least two storage units which are arranged above one another andpreferably concentrically with one another. As a result, a bending toolreservoir with large storage capacity can be created.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the guide rails of afirst storage unit and the guide rails of a second storage unit face oneanother. The first storage unit therefore constitutes a lower toolstorage and the second storage unit an upper tool storage. Upper toolstorage and lower tool storage are preferably (and corresponding to thearrangement of tool holdings in a bending press) arranged above oneanother.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the storage devicecomprises at least one intermediate store which has at least one guiderail for holding and guiding bending tools, wherein the intermediatestore can be moved between the storage units. As a result, a bendingpress can be loaded with bending tools from different storage units.

The object is also achieved with a loading device, in particular achanging device, for loading a bending press with bending tools and/orfor changing one or more bending tools inserted in a bending press,comprising a storage device according to the invention. The loadingdevice can comprise a transfer device for moving bending tools alongguide rails.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the transfer devicecomprises a shuttle—in particular in the form of a slide orcarriage—which can be moved along the guide rail(s) and is preferablyguided in the guide rail.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the transfer devicecomprises an elongated, preferably flexible tension and/or compressiontransmission means, in particular a belt, a rope, a rod or a chain, andthat the shuttle is connected to the tension and/or compressiontransmission means. By using a tension and/or compression transmissionmeans, the traverse drive of the transfer device can be arrangedremotely from the guide rails.

The transfer device can therefore also be designed with low weight andin a space-saving manner. The transmission means can be designed fortransmitting tensile forces or compression forces or tensile andcompression forces. A tension and compression means is used when theloading and changing of bending tools is carried out from one end of therail only.

The transfer device, in particular the shuttle, preferably has areleasable coupling for attaching a bending tool. As a result, thetransfer device can not only push but also pull the bending tools. Thecoupling has a releasing (released) position and a coupling position andcan be operated by an actuator. The coupling can be designed as amechanical coupling, magnetic coupling or as a suction device forexample. The coupling can produce a frictional and/or interlockingconnection with the bending tool. The actuator for operating thecoupling can comprise a cylinder-piston unit, a linear drive, a motor, avacuum device and/or an electromagnetic device.

In an alternative variant, the shuttle could also be designed to beself-propelled, wherein the traverse drive is arranged in or on theshuttle. In this way, the transfer device can be designed particularlyeconomically with regard to the number of components. The shuttle couldbe controlled by wire connection or also wirelessly.

The objective is also achieved with an arrangement of a bending pressand a loading device coupled thereto according to the present inventionfor loading the bending press with bending tools, wherein the bendingpress has a tool holder for holding and guiding bending tools designedas a guide rail. Bending press and loading device can form a continuousguide section so that a bending tool can be transferred from or into thebending press merely by moving along guide rails.

The object is also achieved with a method for depositing at least onebending tool in a storage device and/or for taking at least one bendingtool from a storage device according to the invention, wherein the atleast one bending tool is moved along guide rails of the tool storages.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the method comprises atleast one shunting operation in which at least one bending tool is movedfrom a guide rail of the one tool storage into a guide rail of the othertool storage, and in which the outer tool storage and the inner toolstorage are rotated relative to one another. The loading or depositingprocess can be greatly simplified as a result.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that shorter bending toolsare deposited in the guide rails of the outer tool storage than in theguide rails of the inner tool storage. As already explained above, thenumber of bending tools to be accommodated can be increased byappropriate distribution of shorter and longer bending tools.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that shorter bending toolsare deposited in the guide rails of the first section than in the guiderails of the second section. Here, the tool storage has along itscircumference a first section in which the angular distance betweenadjacent guide rails is less than in a second section along itscircumference.

In a further embodiment, at least one guide rail of the outer toolstorage and at least one guide rail of the inner tool storage are usedas a transition guide (i.e., not for storing tools). When these twoguide rails are in aligned orientation, the transfer device can carryout the transfer operation of a bending tool from or out of the bendingpress by moving it through the transition guide.

For better understanding of the invention, it is described in moredetail with reference to the following figures.

In the drawings, in each case in greatly simplified schematic form:

FIG. 1 shows a storage device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows the storage device from FIG. 1 with deposited bendingtools;

FIG. 3 shows a tool storage with sections of different angular distancebetween adjacent guide rails;

FIG. 4 shows a storage device with a plurality of storage units;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with three tool storages;

FIG. 6 shows a transfer device with tool storage;

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement of bending press and loading device;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with guide rails, the mining direction ofwhich has a tangential component.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that identical parts in thedifferent embodiments described are assigned the same references or thesame component designations, wherein the disclosures contained in theoverall description can be conferred analogously on identical parts withthe same references or same component designations. The positionalinformation chosen in the description, such as for example top, bottom,side etc., relates to the figure directly described and shown, and inthe event of a positional change, this positional information is to beconferred analogously on the new position.

The exemplary embodiments show possible design variants of the storagedevice, wherein at this point it should be noted that the invention isnot restricted to the specially shown design variants thereof, butrather various combinations of the individual design variants with oneanother are also possible and, based on the teaching relating to thetechnical activity due to the present invention, this variation optionlies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in thistechnical field.

Furthermore, individual characteristics or combinations ofcharacteristics from the different exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed can also constitute independent, inventive solutions orsolutions according to the invention in their own right.

The object on which the independent inventive solutions are based can beseen from the description.

Above all, the individual embodiments shown in the figures can form thesubject matter of independent solutions according to the invention. Therelated objects and solutions according to the invention can be found inthe detailed descriptions of these figures.

Finally, as a matter of form, it should be pointed out that, for betterunderstanding of the design of the storage device and other constituentparts of the invention, these or their constituent parts have to someextent been shown not-to-scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced.

FIG. 1 shows a bending tool storage device 1 for storing bending tools2. A storage unit 3 of the storage device 1 comprises an outer toolstorage 4, which is ring-shaped (alternatively: partial-ring-shaped) andhas a plurality of guide rails 14 running in a radial direction forholding and guiding bending tools 2.

The storage unit 3 comprises an inner tool storage 5, which is arrangedinside the outer tool storage 4 and likewise has a plurality of guiderails 15 running in a radial direction for holding and guiding bendingtools 2. The outer tool storage 4 and the inner tool storage 5 arerotatable relative to one another, wherein, in different positions ofrelative rotation between outer tool storage 4 and inner tool storage 5,at least one guide rail 14 of the outer tool storage 4 is in each casein aligned orientation with another guide rail 15 of the inner toolstorage 5.

The inner tool storage 5 is likewise ring-shaped (alternatively: partialring-shaped). The tool storages 4, 5 are arranged concentrically withone another and are rotatable about a common axis of rotation 18.

A transfer device 9 for moving the bending tools 2 along the guide rails14, 15 is arranged inside the inner tool storage 5. The transfer device(which is shown in detail in FIG. 6) can comprise a shuttle 22—inparticular in the form of a slide or carriage—which can be moved alongthe guide rail(s) and is preferably guided in the guide rail.

Likewise, the transfer device 9 can comprise an elongated, preferablyflexible tension and/or compression transmission means 23, in particulara belt, a rope, a rod or a chain. The shuttle 22 is connected to thetension and/or compression transmission means 23. The transfer device 9,in particular the shuttle 22, preferably has a releasable coupling forattaching a bending tool 2. As a result, the transfer device can notonly push but also pull the bending tools.

The inside diameter of the outer tool storage 4 correspondssubstantially to the outside diameter of the inner tool storage. As canbe seen from the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the outer tool storage4 and the inner tool storage 5 in each case form a closed ring.

The number of guide rails 14 of the outer tool storage 4 is greater than(here: double) the number of guide rails 15 of the inner tool storage 5.

As a result, the angular distance between adjacent guide rails 14 of theouter tool storage 4 is less (here: 9°) than the angular distancebetween adjacent guide rails 15 of the inner tool storage 5 (here: 18°).FIGS. 1 and 2 are, of course, to be understood as illustrative examplesand every possible distribution of radially running guide rails or guiderails having a radial direction component is possible.

FIG. 2 shows an application in which shorter bending tools 2 are held inthe guide rails 14 of the outer tool storage 4 than in the guide rails15 of the inner tool storage 5.

FIG. 3 shows a storage device 1 which achieves the object of theinvention independently of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 andindependently of the number of tool storages. The storage unit 3therefore comprises an outer tool storage 4, 6, which is ring-shaped orpartial-ring-shaped and has a plurality of guide rails 14, 15 running ina radial direction for holding and guiding bending tools 2. The at leastone tool storage has along its circumference a first section 11 in whichthe angular distance between adjacent guide rails 14, 15 is less than ina second section 12 along its circumference.

Expressed another way, the bending tool storage 4 has a first section 11in which the angular distances α between adjacent guide rails 14 are ineach case no greater than a first angle, and a second section 12, inwhich the angular distances β between adjacent guide rails 14 are ineach case at least as great as a second angle, wherein the second angleis greater than the first angle. In the embodiment shown, the angulardistances in the respective sections 11, 12 are substantially constant.That is to say, in the first section 11, the angular distances α betweenadjacent guide rails 14 are in each case as great as the first angleand, in the second section 12, the angular distances β between adjacentguide rails 14 are in each case as great as the second angle.

In a preferred embodiment, the second angle can be at least 1.3 times,preferably at least 1.5 times, particularly preferably at least 2 timesas great as the first angle. The bending tool storage 4 from FIG. 3 isring-shaped but, in an alternative embodiment, could also bepartial-ring-shaped or disc-shaped.

It is preferred when the first section 11 and the second section 12extend over an angular range of at least 30°, preferably at least 60°,particularly preferably at least 90°, along the circumference of thebending tool storage 4. It is also preferred when the first section 11and the second section 12 comprise at least 3, preferably at least 5,particularly preferably at least 10 guide rails 14.

From FIG. 3, it can be seen that shorter bending tools 2 are held inguide rails 14 of the first section 11 than in guide rails 14 of thesecond section 12, wherein the bending tools 2 in the guide rails 14 ofthe first section 11 are closer to the outer ends of the guide rails14—referred to the radial direction—than to the inner ends. In FIG. 3,they are arranged in the region of the outer ends of the guide rails 14.

It can likewise be seen from FIG. 3 that, in the first section 11, thedistance between the longitudinal axes 10 of adjacent guide rails 14 inthe region of their inner ends—referred to the radial direction—is nogreater than (preferably less than) the dimension of a bending tool 2held in a guide rail 14 of the first section 11 perpendicular to thedirection of the guide rail 14.

Shorter bending tools 2 can be held in the guide rails of the firstsection 11 than in the guide rails of the second section 12.

FIG. 7 shows that the outer tool storage 4 and the inner tool storage 5of the storage unit 3 each have their own rotary drive 19. Like thedrive for the transfer device, these are controlled by a control device24.

In an alternative embodiment, at least two tool storages of the storageunit 3 can have a common rotary drive, from which they can beindividually decoupled (by means of a coupling, e.g., a coupling ring).

The storage unit 3 preferably comprises at least one sensor 8 (see FIG.7), in particular an angle sensor, for determining the rotationalposition of the outer tool storage 4 and/or the at least one inner toolstorage 5.

FIG. 5 shows a storage device 1 in which the storage unit 3 comprises atleast two inner tool storages 5, 6 which are rotatable relative to oneanother.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a plurality of storage units 3, 13 whichare arranged above one another and (here also) concentrically with oneanother.

The guide rails of the tool storages of a first storage unit and theguide rails of the tool storages of a second storage unit face oneanother (see bottom part and top part of FIG. 4).

A intermediate store 7, which has a guide rail 17 for holding andguiding bending tools 2, can also be seen. The intermediate store 7 canbe moved between the storage units 3, 13 (here: along the double arrow).It is preferred when the intermediate store 7 is also rotatable about anaxis of rotation 28. As a result, the orientation of a bending tool or aseries of successively arranged bending tools can be changed (by 180°).The combination of bending tools and the loading of the bending pressare extended by a further option as a result.

The object—shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 7—constitutes a loadingdevice, in particular a changing device, for loading a bending press 20with bending tools 2 and/or for changing one or more bending tools 2inserted in a bending press 20. The tool holders 21 of the bending pressare simultaneously guide rails, along which the bending tools are movedto their required position.

With the storage device according to the invention, a method fordepositing at least one bending tool 2 in a storage device 1 and/or fortaking at least one bending tool 2 from a storage device 1 can now becarried out. In doing so, the at least one bending tool 2 is moved alongguide rails 14, 15, 16 of the tool storages 4, 5, 6.

The method is carried out with a shunting operation in which at leastone bending tool 2 is moved from a guide rail 14, 15 of the one toolstorage 4, 5 into a guide rail 15, 14 of the other tool storage 5, 4(FIG. 2) and in which the one tool storage 4, 5 and the other toolstorage 5, 4 are rotated relative to one another.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, it is preferred when shorter bending tools 2are deposited in the guide rails 14 of the outer tool storage 4 than inthe guide rails 15 of the inner tool storage 5.

With a storage device 1 according to FIG. 3, it is preferred whenshorter bending tools 2 are deposited in the guide rails of the firstsection 11 than in the guide rails the second section 12.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a bending tool storage device1 for storing bending tools 2. A storage unit 3 of the bending toolstorage device 1 comprises an outer tool storage 4 and an inner toolstorage 5 which have a plurality of guide rails 14, 15. The toolstorages 4, 5 can be ring-shaped (alternatively: partial-ring-shaped).The guide rails 14, 15 run in directions 26 which—referred to the ringshape or partial-ring shape of the respective tool storage—have atangential component. In this exemplary embodiment, the guide rails 14,15 also run from the inside to the outside or from the innercircumference to the outer circumference of the tool storage. Theytherefore also have a radial component—referred to the ring shape orpartial-ring shape of the respective tool storage—(in addition to thetangential component). Referred to an (imaginary) circular circumference25, which is concentric with the outer tool storage 4 and the inner toolstorage 5, the guide rails run (purely) tangentially. The imaginarycircular circumference 25 is smaller than the inside diameter of theinner tool storage 5. In this embodiment, the transfer device 9 has aspacing 27 (offset) from the center or the axis of rotation 18. Here,the spacing 27 corresponds substantially to the radius of the(imaginary) circle with the circular circumference 25. This variant ofthe bending tool storage device 1 has an asymmetrical design, as aresult of which the loading, in particular on the front of the bendingpress 20, can be reduced.

All embodiments which are shown in FIG. 1-7 can of course also berealized with guide rails, the running directions of which—as shown byway of example in FIG. 8—have a tangential component.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   1 Bending tool storage device-   2 Bending tool-   3 Storage unit-   4 Outer tool storage-   5 Inner tool storage-   6 Inner tool storage-   7 Intermediate store-   8 Sensor-   9 Transfer device-   10 Longitudinal axis-   11 First section-   12 Second section-   13 Storage unit-   14 Guide rail-   15 Guide rail-   16 Guide rail-   17 Guide rail-   18 Axis of rotation-   19 Drive-   20 Bending press-   21 Tool holder-   22 Shuttle-   23 Tension and/or compression transmission means-   24 Controller-   25 Circular circumference-   26 Direction with tangential component-   27 Spacing-   28 Axis of rotation-   α Angular distance-   β Angular distance

The invention claimed is:
 1. A bending tool storage device (1) forstoring bending tools (2), comprising at least one storage unit (3),which comprises an outer tool storage (4) which is ring-shaped orpartial ring-shaped and has a plurality of guide rails (14) for holdingand guiding bending tools (2), wherein the storage unit (3) comprises atleast one inner tool storage (5, 6) which is arranged inside the outertool storage (4) and has a plurality of guide rails (15, 16) for holdingand guiding bending tools (2), and wherein the outer tool storage (4)and the inner tool storage (5, 6) are rotatable relative to one another,wherein, in different positions of relative rotation between outer toolstorage (4) and inner tool storage (5), at least one guide rail (14) ofthe outer tool storage (4) is in each case in aligned orientation withanother guide rail (15, 16) of the inner tool storage (5, 6).
 2. Thestorage device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner toolstorage (5, 6) is ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped.
 3. The storagedevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner tool storage(5, 6) is arranged concentrically with the outer tool storage (4). 4.The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the inside diameter ofthe outer tool storage (4) corresponds substantially to the outsidediameter of the inner tool storage (5).
 5. The storage device accordingto claim 1, wherein the guide rails (14) of the outer tool storage (4)and the guide rails (15, 16) of the at least one inner tool storage (5,6) run in a radial direction or in a direction with radial component. 6.The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the guide rails (14) ofthe outer tool storage (4) and the guide rails (15, 16) of the at leastone inner tool storage (5, 6) each run in directions with tangentialcomponent.
 7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the outertool storage (4) and the inner tool storage (5) each form a closed ringand wherein the number of guide rails (14) of the outer tool storage (4)is greater than the number of guide rails (15) of the inner tool storage(5).
 8. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the angulardistance between adjacent guide rails (14) of the outer tool storage (4)is less than the angular distance between adjacent guide rails (15) ofthe inner tool storage (5).
 9. The storage device according to claim 1,wherein, in the outer tool storage (4), the angular distances betweenadjacent guide rails (14) are in each case no greater than a first angleand, in the inner tool storage (5), the angular distances betweenadjacent guide rails (15) are in each case at least as great as a secondangle, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.
 10. Thestorage device according to claim 9, wherein the second angle is atleast 1.3 times as great as the first angle.
 11. The storage deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein shorter bending tools (2) are held in theguide rails (14) of the outer tool storage (4) than in the guide rails(15) of the inner tool storage (5).
 12. The storage device according toclaim 1, wherein the outer tool storage (4) and the at least one innertool storage (5) are rotatable.
 13. The storage device according toclaim 12, wherein the outer tool storage (4) and the inner tool storage(5) of the storage unit (3) each have their own rotary drive (19). 14.The storage device according to claim 12, wherein at least two toolstorages (4, 5, 6) of the storage unit (3) have a common rotary drive(19), from which they can be individually decoupled.
 15. The storagedevice according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit (3) comprises atleast one sensor (8), an angle sensor, for determining the rotationalposition of the outer tool storage (4) and/or the at least one innertool storage (5).
 16. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein atransfer device (9) for moving the bending tools (2) along the guiderails (14, 15) is arranged inside the inner tool storage (5).
 17. Thestorage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit (3)comprises at least two inner tool storages (5, 6) which are rotatablerelative to one another.
 18. The storage device according to claim 1,wherein at least one tool storage (4, 5, 6) has along its circumferencea first section (11), in which the angular distance between adjacentguide rails (14, 15, 16) is less than in a second section (12) along itscircumference.
 19. The storage device according to claim 18, wherein, inthe first section (11), the angular distances between adjacent guiderails (14, 15, 16) are in each case no greater than a first angle andwherein, in the second section (12), the angular distances betweenadjacent guide rails (14, 15, 16) are in each case at least as great asa second angle, wherein the second angle is greater than the firstangle.
 20. The bending tool storage device according to claim 19,wherein, in the first section (11), the angular distances betweenadjacent guide rails (14, 15, 16) are in each case as great as the firstangle and/or wherein, in the second section (12), the angular distancesbetween adjacent guide rails (14, 15, 16) are in each case as great asthe second angle.
 21. The bending tool storage according to claim 19,wherein the second angle is at least 1.3 times as great as the firstangle.
 22. The storage device according to claim 18, wherein shorterbending tools (2) are held in the guide rails of the first section (11)than in the guide rails of the second section (12).
 23. The storagedevice according to claim 1, wherein the storage device (1) has at leasttwo storage units (3, 13) which are arranged above one another.
 24. Thestorage device according to claim 23, wherein the guide rails of thetool storages of a first storage unit (3) and the guide rails of thetool storages of a second storage unit (13) face one another.
 25. Thestorage device according to claim 23, wherein the storage device (1)comprises at least one intermediate store (7) which has at least oneguide rail (17) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), wherein theintermediate store (7) can be moved between the storage units (3, 13).26. A loading device, in particular a changing device, for loading abending press (20) with bending tools (2) and/or for changing one ormore bending tools (2) inserted in a bending press (20), comprising astorage device (1) according to claim
 1. 27. A method for depositing atleast one bending tool (2) in a storage device (1) and/or for taking atleast one bending tool (2) from a storage device (1), wherein thestorage device (1) is designed according to claim 18 and wherein the atleast one bending tool (2) is moved along guide rails (14, 15, 16) ofthe tool storages (4, 5, 6).
 28. The method according to claim 27,wherein the method comprises at least one shunting operation in which atleast one bending tool (2) is moved from a guide rail (14, 15) of theone tool storage (4, 5) into a guide rail (15, 14) of the other toolstorage (5, 4), and in which the one tool storage (4, 5) and the othertool storage (5, 4) are rotated relative to one another.
 29. The methodaccording to claim 27, wherein shorter bending tools (2) are depositedin the guide rails (14) of the outer tool storage (4) than in the guiderails (15) of the inner tool storage (5).
 30. The method according toclaim 27, wherein shorter bending tools (2) are deposited in the guiderails of the first section (11) than in the guide rails of the secondsection (12).